House of Federation

SENATE SECRETARIAT

Report N0. 1 of 2018

Report of the

Senate Forum for Policy Research

On

The Issues of Water Crisis in Pakistan

Presented By

The Senate Forum for Policy Research

To

The Senate of Pakistan

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REPORT OF THE SENATE FORUM FOR POLICY RESEARCH
ON THE ISSUES OF WATER CRISIS IN PAKISTAN
The Senate Forum for Policy Research took up the issue of public importance for comprehensive
discussion, understanding and formulation of required policy input to resolve this critical
problem. Three meetings were held on 28th August, 2017 & 3rd November, 2017 and 18th
January, 2018 respectively with key Government institutions. In these meetings, the Draft
National Water Policy of Pakistan, recommendations of the Hon’ble Members, briefings by the
Ministries and affiliated departments (listed below) were considered and deliberated upon by the
Forum for finalization of input. After thorough discussions and deliberations, the Forum
formulated its recommendations presented in the following pages of this report.

2. The composition of the Forum is as follows:-

1) Senator (R) Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari Chairman

2) Senator Raja Muhammad Zafar – ul-Haq Member
3) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan Member
4) Senator Farooq H. Naek Member
5) Senator Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari Member
6) Senator Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah Member
7) Senator Saud Majeed Member
8) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Member
9) Senator Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini Member
10) Senator (R) Wasim Sajjad Member
11) Senator (R) Afrasiab Khattak Member
12) Senator (R) Javed Jabbar Member
13) Senator (R) Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi Member
14) Senator (R) Ch. Muhammad Anwar Bhinder Member
15) Senator (R) Ms. Razina Alam Khan Member
16) Senator (R) Haroon Akhtar Khan Member

3. The meetings were attended by the following members:-

Senator (R) Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari Chairman

Senator Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari Member
Senator Saud Majeed Member
Senator Dr. Jehanzeb Jamaldini Member
Senator (R) Wasim Sajjad Member
Senator (R) Afrasiab Khattak Member
Senator (R) Javed Jabbar Member
Senator (R) Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi Member
Senator (R) Ch. Muhammad Anwar Bhinder Member
Senator (R) Ms. Razina Alam Khan Member
Senator (R) Haroon Akhtar Khan Member

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4. Following Ministries and Departments attended the meetings and apprised Hon’ble
members about the prevailing situation, planned actions and proposals to resolve water crisis in
Pakistan:

 Water and Power Development Authority

 Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR)
 Indus River System Authority
 Ministry of Water Resources
 Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms

5. THE DISCUSSION HELD WITH RELATED MINISTRIES AND AFFILIATED

DEPARTMENTS

WAPDA:

Chairman WAPDA made a comprehensive briefing and described various challenges Pakistan
faced due to water scarcity:

 According to the IMF, Pakistan is amongst the 15 most water-scarce countries of the
world. It has the fourth highest rate of water use, lowest storage percentage, most water
intensive agriculture and minimum production value.
 Climate change was termed to be the greatest environmental hazard – which had created
various problems such as flooding, droughts and a rising trend in global temperatures.
 Water pollution caused by industrial wastes, sewerage and waste water, use of chemical
fertilizers, pesticides, hospital wastes and unplanned landfills is adversely affecting the
climate.
 Ongoing projects of WAPDA, with construction and extension of different dams,
barrages, link canals, siphons and SCARP projects are the hope for future. The projects
like Mangla dam, Tarbela dam, Kachhi Canal, Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, Golan
Gol hydropower project, Dasu, Kurram Tangi, Nai Gaj dams and proposal for Diamir
Bhasha Dam are important for mitigating the water crisis.
 Extensive extraction of underground water was seen as the root cause of dwindling water
tables in the whole country and particularly in Balochistan.
 The nationwide negligence, ignorance and lack of citizens’ engagement in water
management are major problems combined with non existence of criminal action against
water mafias.
It was further suggested that in view of the seriousness of problems, the Forum may advocate
for formulation of a comprehensive “National Water Policy” for improvement of water
situation in Pakistan.

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IRSA & PCRWR

IRSA and PCRWR comprehensively presented the current scenario and possible future options
for mitigating existing water shortages and crisis:

o IRSA Members highlighted the problems of water scarcity, shortages and losses. The
IRSA requested sufficient allocation of funds to build more dams and water storages to
overcome water shortage in Pakistan.
o Increasing storage capacity was indicated to be the most important step required to
secure water availability for future generations and mitigate the looming water crisis.
o Water harvesting, rain water and flood water storage and improvement of water courses
to avoid losses, were suggested as important measures.
o The Indus Water Treaty and current Indian water projects, highlighting their impact on
Pakistan, were also brought into consideration by IRSA.
o Salient features of water and land resources of Pakistan such as major storage
reservoirs, live storage capacity (designed), available Barrages, head works and
siphons, main irrigation canals, watercourses and others important statistics on existing
water regime were discussed by PCRWR.
o Four water scarcity indicators were highlighted:
• Falkenmark Indicator,
• The Water Resources Vulnerability Index (WRVI),
• IWMI’s,
• Physical and Economic Water Scarcity Indicators & Water poverty index

o According to these indicators, Pakistan falls in the category of water scarce countries. If
the causes of water scarcity, both national level wastages and international controls on
flows are not negotiated, Pakistan may become water stressed soon. Pakistan may take
into confidence the neighboring countries regarding water issues and make appropriate
arrangements after determining priorities.

Ministry of Water resources & Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms

The Ministries highlighted current shortages, institutional capacities and future aspects of water
availability scenario:

 It was pointed out that Pakistan falls in the category of 'Water Scarce Countries' and the
real issue is water storage and water management.
 It was stated that currently there were 81 PSDP schemes pertaining to water resources for
which Rs. 36 billion was allocated. This includes 31 new and 50 ongoing schemes. Most
allocations are for the ongoing schemes and more funds are required to complete them.
 A draft "National Water Policy" has been prepared in consultation with all the provinces
including AJK, GB and other stakeholders. The same was placed before the Council of
Common Interests (CCI) for approval with consensus.
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 i. It has been proposed in the draft "National Water Policy" for the creation of a
"Water Commission of Pakistan".
ii. It has been further proposed that as there is no "Water Management Framework"
currently available, short, mid and long term plans may be designed and proposed.
An "Integrated Water Management" approach is required to be adopted to design
such a framework.
In view of all the above information obtained through briefings and discussions with
Ministries and departments, the Forum made following recommendation:

6. Recommendations:
The majority of recommendations fall into following categories:
I. Political and Legislative Efforts:
i. Senate of Pakistan being the 'House of Federation' may discuss 'National Water
Management'. In this regard the Forum requests the Chairman Senate for constituting a
"Committee of the Whole House on Water Management" and discuss water issues with
appropriate legislative proposals and policy guidance to the government.
ii. Senate of Pakistan may take up the water issues to build consensus among the political
parties on financing and construction of the important water reservoirs and dams.
iii. Water related projects must be given priority in budget allocations and it is recommended
that each upcoming government must allocate 10-15% of the PSDP allocations every
year for the construction of Dams like Diamer Bhasha and Bunji Dam. The forum further
recommended that the construction of new dams and other water management projects
should be protected through legislation to ensure timely completion of these key national
projects.
iv. There is a dire need for an effective national water policy and ground water regulatory
framework on priority basis. The National Water Policy must be formulated in
consultation with the Parliament.
v. Under the China-Pak Economic corridor (CPEC) projects and plans, priorities need to be
reviewed viz-a-viz water reservoirs, dam construction, and hydel-power generation.
vi. The Forum stressed the need to effectively represent Pakistan’s case at international
courts in a quest for obtaining favorable decisions. The experts of IRSA, PCRWR and
Members of SFPR also highlighted the need to negotiate water resource sharing with Iran
and Afghanistan and enter into an accord.
vii. It was recommended that Kalabagh dam, being a contentious issue must be left to the
prerogative of the parliament to make a final decision. The Parliament may support
increasing storage capacity through other options of storage for extra rain and flood
water, e.g. the Akhori dam which could be an alternative to the Kalabagh dam.
viii. Chairman IRSA suggested that all development funds, other than those maintained for
education and health, may be channelized towards water projects including dams,
storages, water harvesting and management.

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 ix. The government should announce a water emergency, while persuading foreign investors
to invest in water sector in Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors may be
facilitated to invest in water projects in Pakistan.
x. A joint session of the Parliament may discuss the water issues to frame concrete policy
guidelines pertaining to allocation and distribution of funds for water management
projects, formulation and adoption of a "Water Charter" by all political parties.
xi. Forum suggested that to discuss such issues, which are a provincial subject but have an
overarching effect over whole of the country, the Senate, being House of Federation may
have an institutional arrangement for an interface with the provinces. Similarly SFPR
may also have some representation from provincial assemblies.

II. Institutional arrangements:

i. keeping view the significance of water resources, it may be made a federal subject, so
that the Parliament can legislate for the whole of Pakistan, as the flowing waters know no
boundaries, while affect all regions.
ii. It was also suggested that since the indigenous water reservoirs were fast depleting, due
to inefficient use of water and absence of regulations, mechanisms like Canal Water
Pricing (the abiyana) may be reviewed and strengthened to make water valued and
conserved.
iii. Contamination of water is the major reason for a constant increase in water borne
diseases in the country. Human requirements must also be taken into account for framing
strategies for water management.
iv. It was observed that steps should be taken by the Ministry of Planning, Development, and
Reform to make short-term plans to deal with "Solid Waste Management" to protect fresh
waters from contamination.
v. There is a significant need for coordination between WAPDA and the provinces and it
may be appropriate to shift WAPDA headquarters to the federal capital Islamabad.
vi. WAPDA may utilize the existing talented human resource of Pakistan for technical
support instead of depending on foreign consultants, and come up with locally suitable
innovative solutions to water crisis.
vii. It was also suggested that institutions like IRSA and WAPDA needs to be restructured
according to modern needs and adopt latest technologies for sustainable water
management solutions

III. Agriculture Sector Initiatives:

i. In view of the severe problem of wastage of water, it was observed that sensitization on
how to grow water-saving crops, and how to conserve water by efficient use of water in
agriculture is immediately needed. Particular emphasis may be laid on the usage of the
modern techniques of irrigation.
ii. Integrated planning in water sector is needed, where the agriculture sector and water
sector institutions work together for conservation of water viz a viz agricultural
modernization.
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IV. Advocacy Initiatives and Public Involvement:
i. For improved awareness and sensitization of general public towards water issue, there is
a need to include these issues in school curricula.
ii. Public involvement and regular awareness campaigns for water are necessary to inculcate
the understanding of water problem and contribution to water conservation.
iii. The nationwide negligence, ignorance and lack of citizens’ engagement in water
management are major problems combined with non existence of criminal action against
water mafias. This may be supported at provinces’ level through involvement of CCI to
resolve water issues.